Arizona Daily Star Top-seeded Nogales advanced in the Class 5A state playoff on a Monday night chock full of Southern Arizona baseball games.
The Apaches beat No. 9 Scottsdale Desert Mountain 5-1, advancing in the winner’s bracket of the tournament. Catalina Foothills wasn’t as fortunate; the 11th-seeded Falcons fell 3-1 to No. 3 Buckeye Verrado. Foothills will play at No. 2 Scottsdale Horizon on Thursday, with the loser eliminated. Fourth-seeded Canyon del Oro advanced in the Class 4A baseball bracket, beating No. 5 Gilbert Mesquite 2-1. Up next: A showdown with top-seeded San Tan Valley Poston Butte on Wednesday night at Tempe Diablo Stadium. The winner will advance to the 4A state semifinals, with the losers falling into the loser’s bracket.
Second-seeded Walden Grove earned a 4-2 win over seventh-seeded Sahuarita, earning a quarterfinal matchup against No .3 Salpointe Catholic on Thursday. The Lancers used a walk-off walk to top Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep 7-6.TUESDAYBaseballClass 6A state playoffs, loser’s bracket No. 12 Tanque Verde at No. 4 Pusch Ridge Christian, 4 p.m.No. 20 St. Augustine Catholic vs. No. 13 Glendale Prep at Phoenix Thunderbird, 5 p.m.No. 9 Sunnyside at No. 1 Surprise Willow Canyon, 4 p.m.